Mesne

Intermediate; intervening; the middle between two extremes, especially of rank or time. An intermediate lord; a lord who stood between a tenant and the chief lord; a lord who was also a tenant. "Lord, mesne, and tenant; the tenant holdeth by four penco, and the mesne by twelve pence." Co. Litt. 23 a.

— Mesne assignment. If A. grant a lease of land to B., and B. assign his interest to C-, and C. in his turn assign his interest therein to D., in this case the assignments so made by B. and C. would be termed "mesne assignments;" that is, they would be assignments intervening between A.'s original grant ftnd the vesting of D. 's interest in the land under the last assignment. Brown.

— Mesne incumbrance. An intermediate charge, burden, or liability; an incumbrance which has been created or has attached to property between two given periods.

— Mesne lord. In old English law. A middle or intermediate laid; a lord who held of a superior lord. 2 Bl. Comm. 59. More commonly termed a "mesne," (q v.)

— Mesne, writ of. An, ancient and abolished writ, which lay) when the lord paramount distrained on the tenant paravail. The latter had a writ of mesne against the mesne lord. As to mesne "Conveyance," "Process," and "Profits," see those titles.